The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-09
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
Debate in the United States Sen
ate on the Question.
Defeat of the Proposed Constitu.
tional Amendment,

A hundred or more women from all parts
of the country, leaders in the Woman's Suf'
frage movement, were in the Senate gallery
at Washington on Tuesday when Senator
Blair moved to postpone the pending bust
ness for the purpose of discussing the pro-
posed constitutional amendment giving the
right of suffrage to women. The following
is the text of the proposed amendment:
"1he right of citizens Of the United States
to vote shall not he denied or abridged by
the United States or by q State on account
Of sex. Congress shall have power, by ap.
propriate legislation, to enforce the provls-
ions Of this article
Mr.. Brown addressed the senate in opposi-
ton. 1t was doubtful, he said, whether the
man or the woman had now the most inilu'
ence in government affairs The Intelligent,
noble, cultivated woman was a power
behind the throne. She now exercised
an imperceptible influence in public at.
fairs, much greater than she could If
female suffrage were enacted. 1t might be
but it would be cruelty to the large majori-
ty of them. The most ignorant and less re-
fined portions of the female population Ito
say nothing Of the baser classes) would flock
to the polls; while refined, intelligent and
virtuous women would stay at home
Mr.. Dolph said he had been for many
wears convinced that the demand made by
women for the right of suffrage was just,
and that of all the distinctions in the regu-
lation Of suffrage the distinction OF sex was
the least defensible. The stage Of ridicule of
the movement was past. The time was not
far distant when in every State and Terri
tory women would be admitted to an equal
voice in the Government.
Mr.. Eustis inquired of Mr.. Dolph whether
he did not think that if woman had the right
of suffrage, she ought also to be required to
serve on juries.
Mr.. Dol ph said that there was no conn:c.
tion between jury service and the right OF
suffrage. But in Washington Territory,
where women had the right Of suffrage, they
also served on juries-and to the great satis-
faction Of judges aud lawyers.
Mr. Vest spoke in opposition to the resolU-
ton. If this Government, he said tthe
dream of philanthropists and patriots, were
ever destroyed, it would be through lnju-
dicious, immature, or corrupt suffrage. 1t
was not on the sparsely settled prairies
merit Of female suffrage could be
had. Suffrage there remained pure
when it was corrupted everywhere else. The
danger from suffrage was in the cities Did
the Senator from New Hampshire (Mr.
Blair, who last session shocked the Senate
with his statement as to illiteracy in the
South, propose to give suffrage to
the colored women of the South! The
great danger to-day was in emotional suf-
frage, in excilable suffrage. Women were
essentially emotional in their nature He
sent to the Secretaly's desk and had read a
printed petition demonstrating against the
extension Of suffrage to women, also letter
from Mrs. Clara T. Leonard, of Springfield,
Mass, presenting arguments against female
suffrage.
Mr.. Hoar remarked that Mrs. Leonard
herself was the strongest refutation OF her
argument She had been herself exercising
for years the most important public func-
tions in the Commonwealth OF Massachu-
setts, as a member of the Board Of Lunacy
and Charity.
Mr.. Blair made an argument in favor of
the resolution. The real question for the
Senate, he said, was not whether it favored
female suffrage. but whether it would con-
sent to submit the question to the Legisla-
lures of the several States. He presented
the petition of the Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union.
The vote was taken Oh the resolution and
it was rejected by vote OF 10 yeas to "a
nays as follows
Yeas-Biair, Bowen. Cheney, Conger, Gull
lom, Dolph, Farwel, Hoar, Manderson,
Mitchell IOre.), Mitchell PENN, Palmer,
Platt, Sherman, Teller and Wilson Qowa)
-16
Nays-Beck, Berry, Blackburn, Brown,
Call, Cockrell, Coke. Colquitt, Eustis, Ev-
arts, George, Gray, Hampton, Harris, Haw-
lev, ingalls,, Jones New, Mcmillan. Nc
Pherson, Malone, Morgan, Morrill,, Paine,
Puph, Salisbury, Sawyer, Sewell, Spooner,
Vance, Vest, Walthall, Witthorne, Williams
and Wilson tMd.l-34